Reading Comprehension Practice 18

Reading Comprehension Practice 

The e-waste (Management and Handling) Rules. 2011, notified by the Ministry of Environment and Forests, have the potential to turn a growing problem into a developmental opportunity. With almost half-a-year to go before the rules take effect, there is enough time to create the necessary infrastructure for collection. dismantling and recycling of electronic waste. The focus must be on sincere and efficient implementation. Only decisive action can reduce the pollution and health costs associated with India's hazardous waste recycling industry. If India can achieve a transformation, it will be creating a whole new employment sector that provides good wages and working conditions for tens of thousands. The legacy response of the States to even the basic law on urban waste, the Municipal Solid Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules has been one of indifference; many cities continue to simply burn the garbage or dump it in lakes. With the emphasis now on segregation of waste at source and recovery of materials. it should be feasible to implement both sets of rules efficiently. A welcome feature of the new ewaste rules is the emphasis on extended producer responsibility. In other words, producers must take responsibility for the disposal of end-of-life products. For this provision to work, they must ensure that consumers who sell scrap get some form of financial incentive,The e-waste rules, which derive from those pertaining to hazardous waste, are scheduled to come into force on May 1, 2012. Sound as they are, the task of scientifically disposing a few hundred thousand tonnes of trash electronics annually depends heavily on a system of oversight by State Pollutions Control Boards (PCBs). 

Unfortunately, most PCBs remain unaccountable and often lack the resources for active enforcement. It must be pointed out that although agencies handling e-waste must obtain environmental clearances and be authorised and registered by the PCBs even under the Hazardous Wastes (Management, Handling and Transboundary Movement) Rules 2008, there has been little practical impact. Over 95 per cent of electronic waste is collected and recycled by the informal sector. The way forward is for the PCBs to be made accountable for enforcement of the e- waste rules and the levy of penalties under environmental laws. Clearly, the first order priority is to create a system that will absorb the 80,000-strong workforce in the informal sector into the proposed scheme for scientific recycling. Facilities must be created to upgrade' the skills of these workers through training and' their occupational health must be ensured.

Recycling ofe-waste is one of the biggest challenges today. In such a time, when globalisation and information technology are growing at a pace which could only be imagined few years back, e-waste and its hazards have become more prominent over a period of time and should be given immediate attention.

1. What, according to the passage, is important now for e-

waste management?

(a) Making rules

(b) Reviewing rules 

(c) Implementing rules 

(d)Notifying rules

(e) Amending rules

2. Which of the following can be one of the by-products of effective e-waste management?

(a) India can guide other countries in doing so.

 (b) It will promote international understanding. 

(c) It will promote national integration.

(d) It will create a new employment sector.

(e) It will further empower judiciary.

3. Which of the following rules has not been indicated in the passage?

(a) e-waste Rules 2011

(b) Pollution Check Rules

(c) Hazardous Wastes Rules, 2008 

(d) Municipal Solid Wastes Rules 

(e) All these have been indicated

4. "Both sets of rules" is being referred to which of the

following?

(a) Solid wastes and hazardous wastes

(b) e-waste and hazardous waste

(c) Solid waste and e-waste

(d) e-waste and e-production

(e) Solid waste and recycling waste

5. e-waste rules have been derived from those pertaining to'

(a) Hazardous waste

(b) PC waste

(c) Computer waste

(d) Municipal solid waste

(e) National waste

6. Which of the following will help implement "both sets of

rules"?

(a) Employment opportunities

(b) International collaboration

(c) Financial incentive

(d) Segregation of waste at source

(e) Health costs

7. e-waste Rules came/come into force from

(a) 2008

(b) 2009

(c) 2010

(d) 2011

(e) 2012

8. Which of the following best explains the meaning of the

phrase "which could only be imagined few years back" as

used in the passage?

(a) It was doomed.

(b) It took us few years.

(c) It took us back by few years

(d) Imagination is better than IT

(e) None of these

9. Which of the following is true in the context of the passage?

(a) No city dumps its waste in lakes.

(b) Some cities burn garbage.

(c) PCBs have adequate resources for active enforcement. 

(d) e-waste was a much bigger challenge in the past. 

(e) None of these

10. Which of the following is not true in the context of the passage?

(a) Some form of financial incentive is recommended for the producers.

(b) Some financial incentive is recommended for the consumers.

(c) e-waste will be a few hundred thousand tonnes. 

(d) The agencies. handling e-waste have to obtain environmental clearances

(e) Those involved in e-waste management would need to upgrade their skills.

Answer: -

1.C

2.D

3.B

4.E

5.A

6.D

7.E

8.E

9.B

10.A